J Can Chiropr Assoc 2026 (Apr); 70 (1): 27-54

Appendix 1. PubMed literature search strategy for efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy in older adults with chronic spinal conditions

PubMed 10.30.24
#1	chronic	1,794,233
#2	pain	1,091,864
#3	musculoskeletal or back or neck or spine or spinal or thoracic or lumbar or cervical or vertebral or pelvic or pelvis or occipital or sacroiliac or sacrum or lumbosacral or coccyx or “SI joint” or intervertebral disc degeneration or intervertebral disc displacement or sciatic* or spondylosis	2,300,335
#4	#1 and #2 and #3	62,844
#5	manual therapy or spinal manipulation or musculoskeletal manipulations or manipulation, osteopathic or manipulation, chiropractic or manipulation, spinal or manipulation, orthopedic or chiropract*	61,947
#6	#4 and #5	2,834
#7	geriatric* or aged[mh] or aged, 80 and over[mh] or older person* or older adult* or older patient*	3,906,896
#8	#6 and #7	495
#9	#8 and 2016/02/01:2024[dp]	227
#10	#9 and English[la]	221
#11	Limit article type: randomized controlled trial	65

PubMed as search string:

((((((chronic) AND (pain)) AND (musculoskeletal or back or neck or spine or spinal or thoracic or lumbar or cervical or vertebral or pelvic or pelvis or occipital or sacroiliac or sacrum or lumbosacral or coccyx or “SI joint” or intervertebral disc degeneration or intervertebral disc displacement or sciatic* or spondylosis)) AND (manual therapy or spinal manipulation or musculoskeletal manipulations or manipulation, osteopathic or manipulation, chiropractic or manipulation, spinal or manipulation, orthopedic or chiropract*)) AND (geriatric* or aged[mh] or aged, 80 and over[mh] or older person* or older adult* or older patient*)) and 2016/02/01:2024[dp]) and English[la] and randomized controlled trial[pt]